Your lifestyle plays a critical role in the treatment of COPD. By making certain lifestyle changes, you may be able to reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Your doctor may recommend that you participate in a pulmonary rehabilitation program. This will incorporate many of these lifestyle changes into a comprehensive program which includes the support of your peers.

Quit smoking

Exercise regularly

Eat a healthful diet

Avoid close contact with people who have respiratory infections

Avoid excessive heat, cold, and very high altitudes

Avoid exposure to environmental irritants

Learn breathing techniques

Learn relaxation techniques

Quitting smoking
slows the progression of COPD. Doctors consider quitting smoking the most important aspect of treatment. Patches and prescription pills are available to treat your addiction to smoking. Programs are available that use behavior modification techniques and medications to help you gradually taper off cigarettes.
Quitting smoking may reduce your risk of dying from COPD. No other treatment can give you this benefit.

Regular physical activity builds endurance and promotes an overall sense of well-being. Follow your doctor’s recommendations for activity levels and possible restrictions. In addition, special breathing exercises and methods of breathing can strengthen chest muscles and make breathing easier.

Excess weight causes the lungs and heart to work harder, which they are already doing because of COPD. For some people with COPD, the extra work of breathing can make eating enough food difficult. This can result in weight loss.

Maintain a normal weight. Excess weight causes the lungs and heart to work harder.

It may be hard to eat because you feel full. Try eating several smaller meals during the day instead of a few large meals.

Slow down your eating pace. This will make it easier to breathe.

If you need to gain weight, add food or drinks throughout the day. Talk to a dietitian about how many calories you need each day.

Respiratory infections can make the symptoms of COPD much worse. These include colds and the flu. Whenever possible, try to avoid close contact with people who have these contagious infections. It is recommended that patients with COPD get a pneumonia vaccination and yearly flu shots.

Extreme cold can cause the airways to narrow. Excessive heat can also stress the heart and lungs. Air conditioning in the hot summer months can make breathing easier. Oxygen pressure is much lower at high altitudes, which makes breathing difficult. This could affect you if you are traveling through mountainous regions. In addition, commercial aircraft generally maintain cabin pressure equal to an elevation of 5,000 to 10,000 feet. This can make breathing very difficult if you have severe COPD. If you are going to fly, talk to your doctor about the use of supplemental oxygen.

Try to avoid dust and fumes. Avoid all exposure to cigarette smoke. Be aware of air pollution alerts. Avoid outdoor activities when air quality is particularly poor. If you exercise, avoid doing so in areas where levels of car exhaust are high.

Breathing techniques are also known as breathing retraining. They include diaphragmatic breathing or pursed-lip breathing. These can help relieve symptoms of shortness of breath, make you breathe more efficiently, and feel more comfortable. A respiratory therapist may be able to teach these kinds of techniques.

Learn relaxation techniques and other methods to manage stress. These may help reduce shortness of breath and concern about difficulty breathing. Anxiety increases the rate of respiration. This makes breathing more strenuous. Seek emotional support from professionals, family, friends, and other persons with COPD. Ask your healthcare provider which stress management techniques are appropriate for you.

Contact your doctor if:

You need assistance with smoking cessation

You experience increased difficulty breathing, especially if this occurs suddenly

You need help determining the right level of exercise

You have difficulty eating or experience marked, unplanned changes in body weight

You develop a respiratory infection that is further compromising your lung function

You need advice on traveling or need more information about supplemental oxygen

You need help relaxing or are interested in joining a COPD support group

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

What you can do about a lung disease called COPD. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease website. Available at:
http://www.goldcopd.org/uploads/users/files/GOLD%5FPatient%5FRevJan10.pdf. Accessed February 24, 2014.